Community Leader Roy “Marty” Tiefenbrunn Passes At Age 58

The local community is mourning the loss of Sullivan community leader Roy Martin “Marty” Tiefenbrunn, who passed away suddenly  Friday, June 15, at the age of 58.

Tiefenbrunn, a lifelong Sullivan resident, served some 27 years on the Sullivan School District Board of Education with two different terms from 1985-2002, taking a five year break from the board and then was re-elected multiple times to serve from 2008-2018.

His obituary reads: “Marty loved people and he loved to be involved in all sorts of family, church, school and civic activities. He loved sports of all kinds. For many years he was active as a player. He later coached numerous baseball, basketball, softball and soccer teams. He was a registered official with the Missouri State High School Activities Association for over 17 years. He was a former ASA district softball commissioner and umpire-in-chief. In 1987, he was selected to umpire the Men’s Major National Softball Championships. He was also selected to umpire numerous ASA regional and state championships. Marty was the past president of the Sullivan Boys Baseball Association and was the creator of the Sullivan Instructional League concept. He was a media member of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater St. Louis Fellowship of Christian Athletes Ozark Gateway region.”

Tiefenbrunn was well known in the world of local sports and media with a sports knowledge of history and achievements only second to a sports history book.

An avid reader, writer and broadcaster, Tiefenbrunn loved and expressed himself well though his writing for the Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan Journal, his publishing company, Bald Eagle Sports LLC, and play by play broadcaster for KTUI 102.1 FM/Fidelity Cable.

According to his obituary, “He loved high school and college sports and forever said that he bled the Black and Gold of the Sullivan Eagles and Missouri Tigers.

Tiefenbrunn was a graduate of the former Southwest Missouri State University now known as the Missouri State Bears.

Tiefenbrunn is survived by his wife, Donna Tiefenbrunn, his parents Roy and Judy Tiefenbrunn, children; Mathew Ryan and wife Kaylen, Brock Martin and wife Brittani, and Dr. Morgan Rebecca and husband Kris Moore; three grandchildren: Ace Owen, Conlee Rose and Brighton Stone Tiefenbrunn; one brother Dr. Matthew John Tiefenbrunn and wife Mia, two sisters; Tracy Clayton and Casey Sisney and husband Lee and mother-in-law Becky Sanders. Tiefenbrunn was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Richard Sanders.

Funeral arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home with visitation held on Monday evening, June 18 and funeral services held Tuesday, June 19, all at Temple Baptist Church. Burial services were held at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Sullivan.

Those who would like to make memorial contributions may do so to the Marty Tiefenbrunn/Sullivan Eagles Scholarship Fund, Ozark Gateway Fellowship of Christian Athletes of to Project HOPE Nicaragua.

The Sullivan Independent News expresses our deepest and most sincere sympathy to the family of our former colleague Marty Tiefenbrunn. His phone calls, messages, sports memory, friendship and encouragement will be truly missed.